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Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Basketball - Get Better On the Cheap

Spare us the "when I was a kid," because it's irrelevant. Let's discuss 'free' resources to develop:

  • Skill
  • Strategy
  • Physicality
  • Psychology
Skill. Start with Camp Driveway. Having a hoop in the driveway doesn't help if you don't use it. 
  • First, schedule the time. Track the time. Review. (Pick, Stick, and Check)
  • Work out with a friend or teammate. You build relationships, compete, and drag two people higher. You have a passer/rebounder and a defender/competitor. 
  • Plan your workouts from warmup, to specific skill development. 
Here's something I sent out awhile back. If someone's attitude is, whoa, I can never learn that, so be it. 

2. Compendium
Attack mentality. Choose from a 'menu' of improvements. Invest the time to review multiple videos. You don't need to develop every one. 
3. Box drills  (absolutely great drills) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwmyJF0s6gA&t=1s
4. Athleticism drills  (sport rewards explosive athletes)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szJXg72tyZ8&t=437s

Strategy.
  • Watch and study basketball.
  • YouTube videos. 
  • Study great teams, players, and coaches (pro and college). 
  • Study 'specialty' areas...e.g. offensive rebounding. 
  • Study Xs and Os. 
  • Read some great basketball books... 
  • Ask "Artificial Intelligence" about any of the above
For example, I asked ChatGPT for key points from Dean Smith's book Basketball Offense and Defense

Offensive Principles

  1. Team-Oriented Play – Smith emphasized unselfish basketball, where every offensive action serves a purpose for the team rather than individual stats.
  2. Multiple Offenses – Rather than rigidly sticking to one system, he believed in adjusting based on personnel and opponents, incorporating the passing game, shuffle offense, and flex actions.
  3. Spacing & Timing – Good offense relies on proper spacing to create passing lanes and open shots, along with precise timing of cuts and screens.
  4. Fast Break Efficiency – He detailed a structured primary and secondary fast break that allowed teams to push the pace while maintaining control.
  5. Shot Selection & Discipline – Taking high-percentage shots within the team’s offensive flow was paramount. Players needed to understand their role in the system.
  6. Player Movement & Screening – He emphasized constant off-ball movement, proper screening angles, and reading defenders to create advantages.

Defensive Principles

  1. Man-to-Man Defense as a Foundation – While he used zone principles situationally, his philosophy revolved around tough, disciplined man-to-man defense.
  2. Help Defense & Rotations – Every player had a responsibility to provide help and recover, ensuring that no one was left on an island defensively.
  3. Communication & Accountability – Talking on defense and holding teammates accountable for positioning was essential.
  4. Defensive Transition – A great defense starts with preventing easy transition points by sprinting back and matching up properly.
  5. Adjustments & Scouting – He believed in tailoring defensive strategies to counteract opponents' strengths, including trapping, denying passes, or switching coverages.
  6. Taking Charges & Hustle Plays – Effort-based defensive actions, like taking charges and diving for loose balls, were a staple of his teams.

Coaching & Leadership

  1. Discipline with Freedom – He gave players structured freedom, where they could make reads but within a disciplined framework.
  2. Mental Preparation – His teams were always mentally ready through detailed scouting, visualization, and understanding opponents’ tendencies.
  3. Character Development – He prioritized shaping players into great teammates and individuals, not just basketball players.
  4. Practice with Purpose – Every drill and scrimmage had a goal, whether reinforcing fundamentals or simulating game situations.
Physical development. 

There's no definitive treatise on speed, strength, quickness, and conditioning. It's not enough to play a lot. In many climates, you can't play outdoors year round. 

Don't limit yourself to basketball ideas. Volleyball shares a lot of great sites for strength and power development. 


Psychology. Mindfulness training for focus, resilience, and relaxation has objective benefit. NBA greats like Jordan, LeBron, and Kobe relied heavily on their mental training. The best book I've read on mindfulness training was Search Inside Yourself. The daily commitment is small, ten to fifteen minutes to reduce anxiety and depression, improve focus, and improve sleep. 

Lagniappe. Take it from a champion. 
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